Electric-arc



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 v D. HIGHAM.

ELECTRIC ARC LAMP;

No. 605,714 Patented June 14,1898.

F LE1- WITNESSES: INVENTOR DANIELHGHAM.

ATTORNEYS.

om- L'I w (No Model.

D. HIGHAM. ELECTRIC ARC LAMP.

Patented June 14, 1898.

3 SheetsSheet 2.

INVENTOR DAN IELH @HAM BY 7 WMMW ATTORNEYS.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

'1). HIGHAM. ELECTRIC ARG'LAMP. No. 605,714. Patented June 14,1898.

\NVENTOR WlTNT-ISSES: X7 1] H I ANIEL \CrHAM BY ATTORNEYS.

m: norms man's co. PyoYo-u'mo" WASHINGTON, u. c.

25 tion of the carbons.

. UNrTien STATE PATENT Orrrcno DANIEL IIIGHAM, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO I-IOiVARD H. HIGI'IAM, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRHCHARC LAM P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 605,714, dated June 14, 1898.

' Application filed October 26, 189 '7. Serial No. 656,444. (No model.)

T 00% whom it may-concern.-

Be it known that I, DANIEL HIGHAM, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in Boston, Massachusetts, have invented Improvements in Electric-Arc Lighting, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electric-arc lamps for use on direct-current constant-potential circuits, and has for its object to provide means whereby two or more sets of electrodes or carbons can be connected in series and operated simultaneously in one lamp without the use of independent controlling means responding to variations in the consumption of the two or more sets of electrodes or carbons. In effecting this object I employ suitable magnetic means to regulate the amount of current passing by acting upon the movable electrodes or carbons as a unit, and I provide against excessive variations in the consumption of the two or more sets of carbons or electrodes by extinguishing the current momentarily--say at every one-tenth of an inchthroughout the available consump- By thus interrupting the current at frequent intervals and acting upon the movable carbons as a unit the points of the two or more sets of carbons will always be separated an approximately equal distance apart at the moment of every reestablishment of the current, and in this way the excessive variations in the consumption of the two or more sets of carbons will not have sufficient time to take place, as more fully described 3 5 hereinafter. In order, however, to extinguish and reestablish the current quickly without objectionable variation of light, I have found it best to use the method of obtaining stability of current set forth in my Letters Patent of May 22, 18%, No. 520,232, instead of the usual well-known dead-resistance method, for the reason that with the latter, if the current is extinguished by simple stop devices preventing further advance of the movable carbons and allowing the arcs to open the circuit by burning greater separation between the carbon-points, there is an objectionable gradual decrease of current and light to a considerable amount just before the current is extinguished and a consequent apparent increase of light on reestablishment of the current, whereas with the method of obtainin g stability of current set forth in my abovementioned patent I have found that the current can be extinguished and reestablished without objectionable variation of light beyond the blink occasioned by the momentary extinguishing of current, as more fully explained hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating my invention applied to a lamp having two pairs of carbons. Fig. 2 is a diagram of a lamp with three pairs of carbons, and Figs. 3 and 4c are diagrams of modifications.

In the diagram Fig. l the lamp is shown with two sets of carbons or electrodes Act and B. 1), connected in series with a coil K and a switch T between terminals X Y, the flow of current through the circuit being indicated by arrow-heads. The coil K is shown with a laminated core 70 in order to give its windingshigh self-induction for the purpose set forth in my above-mentioned patent. In the present instance I have shown this coil K as acting as a series magnet-coil in addition to its self-inductive function by having it act magnetically upon movable armatures D D, which are pivoted to the lamp-frame at d d and control the movable carbons A B. Said armatures are connected through links 6 e and connecting-rod F, guided in bearings ff on the frame, to the insulating-board G, through which the carbon rods a Z) pass freely. Hanger arms h h on this board G carry clutches 'L' i, which engage with the carbonrods a h under the action of pull-springs 72 n, adjustably fixed to the frame at s s. In connection with the clutches there are adjustable stops 0 0 fixed to the frame at r r.

The elastic and slow-yielding feature of my above-mentioned patent I have shown as in the form of a tension and compression spring Q and dash-pot P, connected between the mechanism at the lower end of the rod F and frame at w.

The operation is as follows: On the switchin g on of current, which should be taken from a suitable direct-current constant-potential circuit, the armatures I) D are magnetically drawn up from the position shown in dotted lines to that shown in full lines, when they will have acted through links 6 c, rod F, insulating-board G, hanger-arms 7L 7t, and clutches t i to separate the carbon-points and strike the arcs, as illustrated in the drawings. It will be readilyseen and understood that the stops 0 0 can be so adjusted that the clutches '11 t" will have engaged with the carbonrods a I) at substantially the same moment and that the points of the sets of carbons will be separated approxiinatelyan equal distance apart at this point in the operation. It will also be seen and understood that as the carhon-points are consumed the movable carbons A B will be lowered down as a unit by the regulating action ol' the coil K, which, owing to the disposition of the armatures D D, will effect a nearly constant pull upon the movable mechauism in its different working positions, and thereby maintain the current passing at a nearly constant amount, while the dash-pot I and spring Q, will act in connection with the self-induction of coil It to obtain stability of current, as described in my above'mentioned patent. Under these conditions when the carbon-points will have consumed sui'iiciently to bring the clutches *1? i to contact with the stops 0 o it will of course be probable that one set of carbons will have a slightly longer separation between its points than the other. In order to cause the current to be extinguished at this point to secure equal separation between the carbon-points, it is necessary that the springs n n in the present instance be so adjusted or tensioned as to prevent feeding, or, in other words, to prevent disengagement of the clutches 'i 1" from the carbon-rods a I) while current is passing, so that the carbons A 13 will be held up to allow the arcs to open the circuit by burning slightly greater separation between the carbon-points; but the adjustment of the springs a a should be such as to allow of disengagement by the weight of the movable mechanism when relieved of the magnetic attraction of the coil hi immediately after the current is extinguished, but not until then, whereby the carbonpoints will be dropped to contact to reestablish the current and then separated again at an approximately equal distant apart, as on lirst light ing. In this way momentary extinguishment of the current will be repeated throughout the whole available consumption of the carbons and at sul'iiciently frequent intervals to prevent excessive variations in the lengths of arcs from taking place.

In Fig. 52 I have represented my invention as operating three sets of carbons, together with slight modifications oi the construction shown in Fig. 1. The same letters of reference are shown for similar parts in Fig. 1, while the additional parts are the carbons C and c, carbon-rod c, clutch t", step 0, connecting-rod F, and its slide-bearingsj" There are also provided tilting stops W ll, pivoted to the frame atjj and supported in position by pins u a on the .lrauieavhi le adjustable eontact-screws e "1/" are mounted in the insulating-board in range for contact with the tilting stops W \V. There are also an additional dashp0t I and spring Q. The operation is of course precisely as (jlcscribed for Fig. 1, except that the advance of the movable carbons is prevented at the desired pointby screws 1; '0 coming into contact with the tilting stops IV IV before the clutches 11 t 1" can reach releasing-stops o o o, as distin guished from Fig. 1. The current will therefore be extinguished if the weighted ends ol? the tilting stops TV IV are su. 1011b to prevent tilting while current is passing, but not sufiicient to prevent being tilted, as shown in dotted lines in the drawings, by the weight oi the movable mechanism when relieved ol' the magnetic attraction of the coil K after the current is extinguished. In the latter event the clutches '1: 'i i will be allowed to go to contact with releasing-sto s o 0 o to disengage the carbon-rods Ct b c and drop the can bons A B O to reestablish the current and strike the ares at an approximately equal length, as will be obvious from the foregoing description of Fig. 1. In the construction shown in Fig. 9 momentary extinguishing oi. the current will take place at more frequent intervals. The screws 1* *1) can be adjusted to make the intervals longer or shorter, as desired.

The coil Ii. is shown with sections 7.) 7; in its windings connected to extra segment contact-buttons of switch T in order that the x number of wire turns of the coil. it may be varied, as desired, by switch T to increase or decrease the current passing. This is per- Inissible for the reason that as the coil Ii acts to obtain stability of current and to regulate the amount of current as well both conditions will be varied by the switch T at the same time. The construction whereby the coil Ii performs two functions is also an improvement over the means described in my above-mentioned patent.

To represent the arcs as being inclosed, l have shown globes M M iii, in which case this triple form of arc-lamp will be useful for circuits of about two hundred and thirty volts potential.

In Fig. 3 I have diagraminz'rtically shown myinvention as in coni'iection with a dead resistance It in the circuit (the usual method ol' obtaining stability of current) and. series coils L L (the usual simple form for regulating the amount of current passing) to act magnetically upon a ti -shaped solenoid-core 7.1, connected to the rod F, forming part of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1. To complete the circuit between terminals X Y, I have shown. In connection with this carbons A a and I b.

method of obtaining stability of current, as stated above, there is an objectionable gradual decrease of current and light just before the current is extinguished, owingto the arcs having to burn the carbon-points away considerably in producing sufficient separation to open the circuit; but with the method shown in Figs. 1 and 2 I have found this is not the case, for the reason that as soon as the movable mechanism comes to contact with the stop means for extinguishing the current the wave motion of the mechanism necessary to obtain stability of current described in my above-mentioned patent will be prevented and the current will be extinguished almost instantly without the arcs having to burn the carbon-points to produce further separation apparently.

In Fig. I I have represented the magnetic means for regulating the amount of current passing as consisting of shunt-circuit coils J J, connected around the arcs (taken in series) to act magnetically upon an inverted- U -shaped solenoid-core 76 against the tension of a spring Z, adj ustably fixed to the frame at 2, while connection is made to rod F through a link e. The dead resistance Ris in circuit outside of the multiple connection of the coils J J with the carbons A a and B b. The direction of action of these shunt-coils will be to lengthen the arcs on increase of current passing through the arcs, as is the action of the series magnet-coils of Fig. 3--that is, an increase of current passing through the dead resistance R will cause a drop of potential at the terminals of the shunt-coils J J, assuming that the line potential at the terminals X Y be constant, so that the shunted current passing through the coils J J will be reduced and allow the tension of spring Z to lengthen the arcs and of course operate as described for Fig. 3.

It will be evident that various arrangements and modifications could be easily devised by any one skilled in the art by the aid of my disclosure without departing from the scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention 1. The mode herein described of preventing excessive variations in consumption of two or more sets of electrodes connected in series and supplied from a direct-current constant-potential source, said mode consisting of extinguishing the current by opening the circuit, then bringing the points of the two or more sets of electrodes to contact, to reestablish the current, and then separating the points of the said two or more sets of electrodes an approximately equal distance apart, substantially as described.

2. An electric-arc lamp for direct-current constant potential circuits, having two or more sets of electrodes connected in series and magnetic means for controlling the current passing, in combination with means for momentarily extinguishing the current by opening the circuit at suitably frequent intervals, for the purpose described.

8. An electric-arc lamp for direct-current constantpotential circuits, having two or more sets of electrodes connected in series and magnetic means for controlling the current passing, in combination with means for momentarily extinguishing the current at suitably frequent intervals by preventing adva'nce of the movable electrodes, substantially as and for the purpose described.

l. An electric-arc lamp for direct-current constant-potential circuits, having two or more sets of electrodes connected in series and magnetic means for controlling the movable electrodes through suitable intervening clutch mechanism, in combination with means for preventing disengagement of said clutch mechanism while current is passing, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. An electric-arc lamp for direct-current constant-potential circuits, having two or more sets of electrodes connected in series and magnetic means for controlling the movable electrodes through suitable intervening clutch mechanism, in combination with means for momentarily extinguishing the current at suitably frequent intervals, by opening the circuit before the movable clutch mechanism reaches the position necessary to disengage the same, substantially as and for the purpose described.

6. In an electric-arc lamp for direct-current constant-potential circuits, having two or more sets of electrodes connected in series, the combination of magnetic means possessing high self-induction, for the purpose described, and acting to regulate the amount of current passing, with means for momentarily extinguishing the current by opening the circuit at suitably frequent intervals, for the purpose described.

7. In an electric-arc lamp for direct-current constant-potential circuits, having two or more sets of electrodes connected in series, the combination of series magnet-windings possessing high self-induction, for the purpose described, and acting to regulate the amount of current passing, with means for momentarily extinguishing the current by opening the circuit at suitably frequent intervals, for the purpose described.

S. In an electric-arc lamp for direct-current constant-potential circuits, having two or more sets of electrodes connected in series, the combination of series magnet-windings possessing high self-induction, for the pur pose described, and acting to regulate the amount of current passing, with means for momentarily extinguishing the current at suitably frequent intervals, by preventing advance of the movable electrodes, for the purpose described.

9. In an electric-arc lamp for direct-current constant-potential circuits, the combination of three sets of electrodes connected IIO in series and ineiosed at the ares, magnetic name to this specification in the presence of windings possessing high se1f-indneti0n, for two subscribing Witnesses.

s '1 x' 0 Mn V the pmpese deserihed, nd flCLlH le niz te DANIEL HIGI IAN. the current passlng, Wlth means i01- extin- 5 guishing the current momentarily at suitably .Vitnesses:

frequentintervals, for the purpose described. A. N. BONNEY,

In testimony whereof I have signed my I A. G. .BONNEY. 

